Leaderboard

I don't know if you checked the prices of spectra line, but buying bulk and making your own line sets will save you nearly 50% of the cost. Buying a finished set costs roughly $1/foot. If you have some dead time to kill it's worth the effort to make your own. Sleeving is an option that can be used at either or both ends, and it does reduce wear on the kite bridle and handle leaders. Do not buy the spectra line used for fishing. It has a different weave and binds much more easily. There is one brand out there that some have said works, but I have not tried it. The ones I did try were horrid. Most kite shops, both online and brick and mortar, carry bulk spectra in either Laser Pro Gold or Shanti Skybond, or can order it for you.

Coincidentally, I just got some info that might help. Rev is offering a free travel frame with any kite. Since not all Revs use the same spars nowadays, I asked which spars came with that travel frame. Here's a quote from the answer: "The Standard Travel Frame... fits Rev 1.5 sizes, EXP, Rev 1.5, 1.5 Classic, NYM, B series, and Reflex RX" Sounds like the RX is in fact the standard 1.5 size. It doesn't explicitly mention the "Reflex EXP" but I would guess it's also 1.5-sized.

Since you will have 3 very capable yet different standard wind kites the Tica UL might be the better get for you. From what Devon says the slowness and strength of the kite makes it easier to understand for newbies than most kites. Another kite that I probably shouldn't have passed on so fast is the Benson Deep Space UL. 1 to 15 mph range but never found in depth info on how it would handle inland bumpies. My newbie curve was late fall to early spring.Not that many low wind days during those months. Yanking, cranking and guessing on 3/4 kites in higher winds is a blast buuttt. The conventional wisdom is the bigger slower kites for a newbie take someone further faster. Widow ng fits that bill for standard winds. Never flown in Fairy winds before. Must have been magical LOL.

These questions are somewhat of a topic hijack, so a forum moderator could probably split them out into it's own discussion Nocks are used on some kites, they look much like the nock on an arrow. They have a U-shaped edge that a tight cord is placed inside. When placed under tension the cord can slip back out of the nock to release the spar. These kites use an end cap. The cord is threaded through the cap and left in place indefinitely. The end cap is slipped on or off the spar when you set up or break down the kite. More on the rods below... A split spar is broken, even if it hasn't completely failed. You can tape it, epoxy it, or otherwise try to get some more life out of it, but that is playing with fire. Sometime soon you'll hit a gust or a crash and the spar will fail completely. That will probably mean a sharp edge, and it can mean the broken spar will rip through the fabric. Better to replace the spar now rather than wait for a catastrophic failure that risks even more damage. The good news is you don't need to ship away for them. A store called A Wind of Change moved from Las Vegas to SLC a few years ago. Although they transitioned the business from a brick-and-mortar shop to an online shop, they have a bunch of good stuff in stock at their home. Email or call, explain what you're interested in buying, that you live in Salt Lake, and that you'd like to look at the parts if they can arrange a time. Most likely either Kent or Daelyn will arrange for a visit if you know what you're planning on buying. They're located in North Salt Lake by the I-215 curve. I'm sure they have the official revolution rods as well as SkyShark rods in stock. They could show you the difference (and similarities), and sell you whatever parts you need for your kite bag. If you don't have one, I'm sure they could sell you a quality kite bag, too. ;-)

You are absolutely correct!! I just need to get out and learn what I have😉